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Non-paywall link: [ https://archive.is/1XjBq ]

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/23749405

A $15.75 million promise.

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In an unprecedented case report, doctors in Austria have documented the first known instance of psilocybin-induced penile amputation. After consuming a large quantity of magic mushrooms, a 37-year-old man suffering from depression and alcohol abuse severed his penis with an axe. Fortunately, doctors were able to reattach part of the amputated organ. The unique case is detailed in the Mega Journal of Surgery.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, often referred to as “magic mushrooms.” When ingested, the compound is broken down in the body to produce psilocin, a substance that affects serotonin receptors in the brain. This can lead to a variety of mind-altering experiences, including hallucinations, changes in perception of time, and intense emotional shifts. The use of psilocybin has a long history, dating back to ancient cultures that used it for religious or spiritual purposes.

Today, psilocybin is gaining attention in medical research due to its potential therapeutic benefits. Scientists are investigating its use in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In particular, studies have shown promising results for psilocybin’s ability to alleviate symptoms in people with major depressive disorder, even when other treatments have failed.

In addition to its therapeutic potential, psilocybin is of interest to neuroscientists for what it reveals about the brain’s inner workings. By studying how psilocybin disrupts and alters normal brain function, researchers can gain insights into how the brain produces consciousness, processes emotions, and constructs a sense of self. These findings have the potential to improve our understanding of various mental health conditions and open new pathways for treatment.

However, while psilocybin has shown promise in clinical settings, its use outside of these controlled environments can lead to dangerous outcomes. The case described in Austria is a stark reminder that, in certain circumstances, psilocybin can provoke extreme psychological responses, particularly when taken in high doses or by individuals with a history of mental health issues.

The case report published by doctors at Hospital Feldkirch in Austria outlines the shocking details of a 37-year-old man who consumed a large dose of psilocybin and, during a severe psychotic episode, amputated his penis using an axe. The man, who had a history of depression and alcohol abuse, ingested four or five dried psilocybin mushrooms while staying alone in a secluded vacation home.

Not long after consuming the mushrooms, the man began to experience a terrifying hallucination or delusion, which led him to take an axe and sever his penis into multiple pieces. The details of the event are unclear to the patient, as he did not fully remember what had occurred.

The man reportedly tied a piece of cloth around his genital area to control the bleeding and placed the severed parts of his penis in a jar filled with snow. He then left the house, bleeding profusely, in search of help. A passerby found him in a confused state and called for emergency services. The man was transported to a nearby village and later to a hospital, arriving approximately five hours after the amputation.

Upon arrival, the patient was in a critical condition, having lost a significant amount of blood. He was immediately taken into surgery, where doctors worked to stabilize him and control the bleeding. His penis was contaminated with soil and snow, and parts of the organ were severely damaged. Surgeons were able to save the glans (the tip of the penis) and about two centimeters of the penile shaft, but the other sections were too damaged to be repaired.

Remarkably, the replantation was successful, despite the significant challenges posed by the extent of the injury and contamination. Despite initial difficulties, the patient’s condition improved after the surgery, although he continued to suffer from severe psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations and religious delusions. He was placed under psychiatric care, and his treatment included antipsychotic medications to help control the hallucinations. His mental state gradually stabilized, and after a week, he was moved back to the urology department to continue his recovery.

In the weeks following the surgery, the patient experienced some complications. Superficial necrosis (death of skin tissue) developed on the glans of his penis, likely due to the loss of blood flow during the period of ischemia, but this healed over time. Remarkably, the patient was able to regain some erectile function within three months of the surgery, though the overall length of his penis was significantly reduced due to the damage. At his last follow-up visit, he was able to urinate normally while seated, though a minor complication called hypospadias developed, where the urethral opening is located further down the shaft than normal.

While this case is the first documented instance of psilocybin-induced self-amputation, it brings attention to a broader phenomenon of self-mutilation during psychotic episodes, particularly among individuals with underlying mental health conditions. Known as Klingsor syndrome, these rare but extreme events often involve self-inflicted injury to the genitals and can be associated with a range of psychiatric conditions, from schizophrenia to substance-induced psychosis.

Case reports are typically used by doctors and researchers to document unusual or rare medical events. They offer valuable real-world examples of how certain drugs, treatments, or conditions can manifest in unique circumstances. However, because case reports usually focus on a single patient, they do not provide the kind of broad, statistically significant data that is needed to establish definitive conclusions about a drug or condition.

In other words, while this case demonstrates that psilocybin can, in rare instances, lead to severe psychotic episodes and self-harm, it does not mean that this outcome is common or likely to happen in most people who use psilocybin. In fact, the majority of research on psilocybin has shown that the drug is relatively safe when used in controlled environments with professional supervision.

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20282663

It looks like a family holiday card except that the woman and children posing with Republican Derrick Anderson are not his wife or his offspring

Anderson, who running in a close race for Virginia’s seventh congressional district, was seen in another image seated around the dining table with the same woman and three girls.

The images came to light in an article by The New York Times, headlined “G.O.P. Candidates, Looking to Soften Their Image, Turn to Their Wives,” which reported how “male Republicans struggling to appeal to female voters concerned about their records on reproductive rights are unleashing their spouses to make the pitch on their behalf.”

However Anderson, who is childless, engaged to be married and lives alone with his dog, sought to borrow the wife and children from a longtime friend in an apparent effort to appear as a family man.


🗳️ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

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"Now, Victor is a powerful boy, and even his sneezes are powerful."

Sammy Sosa strained his back ligaments in 2004 by sneezing, rendering him unable to play for 15 days. In 2015, Lindsey Vonn was hospitalized after she hurt her thumb breaking up a fight between her dogs. Michael Jordan severed a tendon in his finger in 1999 while cutting a cigar. Glenallen Hill, an outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, ended up with cuts and carpet burns after he tried to escape spiders in a nightmare in 1990. And in 1996, Bruce Walker, a defensive lineman for the New England Patriots, wound up with a chest injury while playing catch with a knife.

Last week, Croix Bethune, a midfielder for the Washington Spirit, injured her knee after she threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals game. She will miss the remainder of the National Women’s Soccer League season.

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how long is this fucking article

In a statement to the Guardian, Roberts denied ever killing a dog with a shovel. He did not answer questions about why several people say he told them that he had.

News of Roberts’s alleged comments to colleagues comes as Trump, the Republican nominee for president, and his running mate, JD Vance, have engaged in a racist and false propaganda campaign to demonize Haitian immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, by claiming that they have been killing and eating people’s pets. The xenophobic claims, which are probably meant to strengthen support among white, racist and anti-immigrant voters, have incited multiple bomb threats that have disrupted the Springfield community.

Marsha Weisiger, a colleague of Roberts at the time who is now an environmental history professor at the University of Oregon, recalled being invited to dinner at Roberts’s home with her husband, and Roberts telling both of them the story about how he had hit a neighbor’s pit bull with a shovel and killed it.

To make matters worse, she recalled Roberts saying that the neighbor in question also had puppies and that he had considered killing them, too. Weisiger’s husband, who asked not to be named, recalled Roberts saying he had complained about the dog to the police, who were not responsive, and that the dog sometimes got into his yard.

Daniel Aran, who has been released from prison and is now the owner of a small construction company, spoke to the Guardian from the front yard of the small stone house. Aran is lean and muscular, with a chiseled face and hardened stare.

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Kagi AI summery:
Cards Against Humanity (CAH) is suing SpaceX for allegedly taking over a plot of land on the US/Mexico border that CAH purchased in 2017 to prevent the construction of Trump's border wall. CAH claims it maintained the land but SpaceX later moved construction equipment and materials onto the property without permission. The lawsuit seeks up to $15 million in damages to restore the land and cover losses, and also requests punitive damages. CAH says SpaceX never asked for permission to use the property and never apologized for the damage. The lawsuit includes before and after photos purporting to show SpaceX's use of the land.

And CAH's website all about it

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